Reviews

Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear by Matthew Salesses

whatchareadingheather's review against another edition

2.0

I really wanted to like this book because normally anything regarding doppelgängers is right up my alley, and I am also trying to be proactive with reading more books written by and about Asian Americans as I myself am Asian American. Unfortunately, I feel like there were 3 tones to this book. From the description, I thought I would be jumping into a mystery turned self-acceptance story (regarding the character of Matt). Instead, I got 1 part being non-white in Trump's America (even though it's not blatantly stated that Trump is the "KKK endorsed presidential candidate"), 1 part being Asian American in the modern world (filled with the very real stereotypes that Asian Americans need to work to unlearn), and 1 part doppelgänger discovery story (where the thriller/mystery type stuff lands). If the 3 aspects of the story were 3 separate books focused on those particular themes I think I would have enjoyed them a lot more.

sumayyah_t's review against another edition

4.0

Disappear

This book is WEIRD! Part existential crisis, part murder mystery, part treatise on racism in America. Matt Kim feels like he is disappearing. He has lost his family, parts of his apartment, and his sense of self. He discovers that there is another world, another him, and possibly, another chance to learn to be human. (Also, does it count as a self-insert if you change your race and appearance? Asking for a friend.)

markb2's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

buffna's review against another edition

5.0

I'd read this novel before I read Matthew's craft book: Craft in the Real World. Now I see this novel very differently, and I'm not saying it's his intent, but I see this novel as a book where he doesn't write to western cultural expectations of a 'good' story. With boldness, he is applying everything he'd written about in his craft book. Here, he has a character who has agency but really doesn't, which subverts the western idea of conflict that pivots around a main character always having to make the choice, do the thing, that runs the story. Here, no matter what Matt Kim does, the world affects him, does whatever it wants to him. Disappear him even. The 'looseness' of the story, as in, 'I don't get this book', is imo holding up eastern cultural expectations of writing where instead of just logic (event A leads to event B leads to C, etc.), the story is ALSO held together thematically. Parts connect based on themes and textures. Meanings. Yes, it can read like an absurdist work but honestly, compared to books in that genre, it's really not (think: Kobo Abe's works). If one of Matthew's goals with this novel was to highlight how inflexible a culture is to opening itself to other ways of storytelling, he proved his point. I think when you read this book, have fun, let go of your expectations, and understand the book for what it is, whatever culture it's creating.

steph_s's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

melodrunkcherry's review against another edition

3.0

3 por enquanto… acho que pode crescer em mim e virar um 3,5

thepoptimist's review against another edition

3.0

OK this one demands your attention. I was on top of everything during the first third when Matt Kim feels like he's disappearing. But I took my eye off the ball and slowly started to lose the thread. Is this about the invisibility of being an Asian-American male, the unmoored sentiment of being raised a Korean adoptee or maybe it's a multiverse imagining of what your life might have been if you were born and raised in Korea. That there is a you out there that hasn't had to wrestle with minor feelings, being sidelined and othered and has flourished as a result. Maybe?

I lost the thread and Matthew wasn't throwing me a line. Instead I'm left with this weird collection of malapropisms that are part literary dad joke, existential pun and Konglish mangling of Western idioms. Nothing to fear but fear myself and two can play at that shame now live inside my head rent free.

brettawilliams21's review against another edition

3.0

Disappear Doppelganger Disappear had a very interesting and intriguing synopsis. But I could not enjoy it. It was very smart but required me to concentrate a little to much. I wasn't pulled in to the story in way I would normally like. I like to get lost in a story. I was was getting lost in my own thoughts instead. Maybe at another point in my life I would really enjoy this book and how thoughtful it is. But as of right now I am looking for something that will make my everyday disappear and fill me with wonder and excitement.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

sed's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

avgrave's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0